Daily Devotion in Philippians 1

Daily Nugget:
Most people, including Christians, fear and have anxiety about their death. Paul had a much different outlook on his. His attitude was that his life here on this Earth was more important to others than to him (Philippians 1:24). He considered death a gain to him, rather than a great loss.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

That is a much different view than those living for the party scene would have. They look forward to constant excitement and an action-packed life. If they could not be busy doing what they enjoy, they would not be happy. Death and the next life would not be something they would look forward to, as it would differ from what they like.

Self-centered people get their enjoyment when they are the center of attention and when their needs are provided. They also would fear an eternal future where they could not get what they wanted and run the show.

One seeking political power and money is satisfied when he is running things, and his voice is the one changing the way people live. He would also not be content in Heaven, where God is the ruling power, and His will is the only one that matters.

However, a Christian should have a completely different view of his eternal future, as did Paul. This life is not our permanent home. We are s“pilgrims passing through.” While here on the Earth, we have a purpose of being a good testimony for the cause of Christ and serving the Lord any way we can.

If we have done what the Bible says one must do to have God’s promise of Heaven by being saved, we no longer must fear eternity. We can have great peace that the world does not have concerning this matter (Psalms 119:165). We may even find ourselves like Paul, longing for Heaven, but happy serving the Lord while we are here.
“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:” Philippians 1:23

Today’s Thought:
“Some die without having really lived, while others continue to live, even though they have died.” — Author Unknown

Words to Understand:
Betwixt: not decided: in the middle
Contention: in disagreement
Perdition: never-ending misery after one has died
Pretence: an act to mislead another; pretending
Waxing: getting stronger; increasingly more confident

Today’s Reading:
Philippians 1
1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 ¶ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
7 ¶ Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
9 ¶ And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
12 ¶ But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21 ¶ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
27 ¶ Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.